This family won the Trisomy 21 Lottery- three times
March 5, 2015 
32 Comments
Trisomy 21 is a random event. It’s not hereditary, so it is amazing that this family has three beautiful biological children with the condition.
Introducing the gorgeous Thomson Children!!
These three siblings all have designer genes. ALL three children have Trisomy 21, the most common form of Down syndrome. I think they have won the Trisomy 21 lottery! Read about their story below and share at the end.
“Calli (11): loves electronics and anything to do with doctors, hospitals, ambulances. She has the biggest heart when it comes to helping other children. She would give the coat off her back, shoes off her feet and food off her plate to a child if they needed it.
Montana (8): is a Tomboy! She loves playing in the dirt, working on cars and fishing. She is an adrenaline junky! She would be the child at an amusement park running to all the rides because of the thrill and the faster more “scary” rides would be her favorite.
Sky (5): Mommy’s Boy. Now being in kindergarten we are trying to break that but he cries every day. He is your typical boy; he loves to play in the dirt, muddy water and climb anything and everything.
Calli was born 2 weeks early and we found out at 2 weeks of age she had Trisomy 21 and a heart defect. She had 2 open heart surgeries and spent a lot of her first year of life in the hospital. We are waiting for surgery number 3 buying time with medicine. My pregnancy with Montana…. well when we found out at 20 weeks that she had T21 too, we also found out she had the same heart condition as Calli. The ultrasound tech told us we had options. I instantly said “My only option is to have her and love her. She is my child” that was all he said. The cardiologist that followed my pregnancy (he was Calli and Montana’s cardiologist) said we should not have any more children because it looked like Montana’s heart was worse than Calli’s. He was unsure but it looked like to him that the more children we had the worse the heart condition would be.
But no one had ever heard of parents having multiple children with Trisomy 21, let alone the same heart condition. Montana was born 4 and a half weeks early. She had one open heart surgery and spent about 6 months in the hospital. After Montana was born I was going to have my tubes tied but never got around to it. Sky was a surprise! A great and wonderful surprise!
The doctors and geneticist in Wisconsin told me to abort.
My little brother has Down syndrome and through Down syndrome AZ we met a family that lived nearby that also had had three children with T21! The oldest had passed in the hospital after being in and out of the NICU since birth, but they ended up adopting a fourth with Down syndrome as well. These kids are amazing. Such blessings! ❤️
Is it inherited?
“Most of the time, Down syndrome isn’t inherited. It’s caused by a mistake in cell division during the development of the egg, sperm or embryo.
Translocation Down syndrome is the only form of the disorder that can be passed from parent to child. However, only about 4 percent of children with Down syndrome have translocation. And only about one-third of these children inherited it from one of their parents.
When translocations are inherited, the mother or father has some rearranged genetic material, but no extra genetic material — this means he or she is a balanced carrier. A balanced carrier has no signs or symptoms of Down syndrome, but he or she can pass the translocation on to children, causing extra genetic material from chromosome 21.
The chance of passing on the translocation depends on the sex of the parent who carries the rearranged chromosome 21:
If the father is the carrier, the risk is about 3 percent.
If the mother is the carrier, the risk is between 10 and 15 percent.”
From Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/down-syndrome/basics/causes/con-20020948
It is rarely inherited. It would depend on which type these children have to know this. I would assume the parents know as genetics are typically done after birth. Whatever he case, like me, they did win the lottery to get even one of these precious children! Mine is now 12. Great job mom and dad! Keep telling the world.
You definitely hit the jackpot! Three of the most beautiful loving children. What a blessing
Wow what inspirational stories! I have identical twin girls with T21, age 14 months old. They are small but mighty…and I am so proud to be their mommy. I just know they are going to do great things throughout their journey! They have already changed my outlook on life greatly. I occasionally do have times when I still cry… it comes from feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, not because I am sad. It can be difficult juggling work, doctor appointments, therapy, and 5 children. But above all things, my girls bring so much pure love and joy to the family!
What an incredible job you’re doing Melissa! I’d love to write about you and your unique story, if you’d like to.. Just use the contact form on this website xx Kat
Absolutely! Anything we can do to help bring awareness to how amazing people with Down Syndrome are!
I am Mon the three boys with Down Syndrome. Jose Luis (9 y), Sahid (7y) and Jesus Andrey (5 y).
What a beautiful family and what an amazing story. It made me laugh, it made me cry. We are all special in our own way. You two as parents are truly amazing, you are very strong, and I commend you both.
. To the person who wanted you to abort your third child, shame on you for even entertaining that thought That is not a choice you make for someone, and I hope that you learned that from this lady. You don’t throw a child away because it is different. The one thing you must remember we are all equal in Gods eyes, and we are all different in one way or another.
. God bless you and your family.
What a gorgeous trio! So so blessed that heart and wisdom overtake ‘medical advice’. I did read in the first paragraph that T21 is not hereditary. There is a form of T21 that is hereditary where the parent/parents do not show any symptoms. It is very very rare though. It is caused through a Robertsonian Translocation. But either way, it is amazing that all three beautiful children have T21! Xx
Oh just read the comment above re translocations! :))
Your children are gorgeous and you have my thoughts and prayers for their continued health and happiness. Being the mother of three myself, I know that it’s a full time job and I give you applause for raising such a fine and beautiful family. May the hard times be behind you all. xo
Your kiddos are beautiful! I have 2 biological children who were born with DS. I have a son (14) and my 2 girls (12 & 11) were born with DS. People always think we adopted. My girls were born 10 1/2 months apart. My 12 year old has had 2 open heart surgeries. My 11 year old had heart surgery when she was 3 months old. They are both doing great now. They will be in the 6th grade next year. They are in a classroom with 6 other kids and are mainstreamed into other classes throughout the day.
God makes no mistakes
Hi there! I loved reading about your beautiful children! I have two children of my own with Down Syndrome, both biological. Elli is 5 and Levi is 2 1/2. The article said that Down Syndrome is not inherited. Most of the time this is true, but in our case my children got it from me. Its called translocation. One of my 21 chromosomes is stuck to my 14th chromosome. So its not in its regular spot. It’s regular spot is blank. When the children were born, they got my normal 21, their father’s 21, and my funky 14 with the 21 attached. So, trisomy 21. The geneticist said we had a 1 in 10 chance of having a child with DS each time we try. I think we are done having children now but the ones we have are great blessings to us and all that know them! Take care!
Hi Laura! Congratulations on your beautiful children- just wanted to clarify the article above does mention that Trisomy 21 isn’t hereditary, but doesn’t clarify that translocation Down syndrome IS. I should definitely do a follow up article to this one (written by a friend, Joelle) on the different types though!
Yes, we have a sweet daughter who has a translocation. We were both tested and are not carriers…. We were just given an extra gift of joy…
Hi Laura, would love to be your friend , I also have 2 bio kids with translocation that they got from me
You are a saint! I also have a child with T4 and M 18 he is my world! Your children are beautiful .
I would never imagine that there would be three children with Down syndrome. But I’m surprised. On my age of 34, I have Down syndrome trisomy 21 Mosaic type, high functional. I work from Mondays to Fridays by walking 34 minutes back and forth, get up so early and done the chores in the afternoon, goes to the bank when it’s needed and there are lots to share about my experiences. If you have time to read some of stories, you can go and check at my blog. I’ve seldom post articles the past months because of my new work. To added with my abilities such as dancing, writing and drawing are my gifted talents since I was in my adolescence. Now I’m working to go out dating with a girl I’ve always dream to go married.
Hi! You don’t know me but I am 32 years old and I have downs syndrome. I too am high functional as well. I like computers, watching tv and movies, texting my friends, reading, writing, singing and I love playing with little kids and babies. I also have a job 2 of them in fact. I work at a flower shop mostly doing clean up work on Tuesdays and on Thursdays I work at a thrift store washing dishes. I am glad you posted on here.
Stephanie that sounds like an amazing job- flower shop! I hope you get given flowers a lot. Thanks for posting on my website! Kat
Stephanie: I just saw your post. Please see my reply to JP; the same applies to you as well!
Thank you JP for your story. I have so much hope for my son (20 months old) and for what he will be able to accomplish! I believe stories like yours go so far to achieving the breaking of stereotypes about men and women with Down Syndrome! Much love and best wishes to you!
Beautiful children! I think you have been Blessed trice! I have two of my own born with Down Syndrome, my son is also Autistic. I had the same issue with doctors trying to get me to abort my second. People look at me funny as well because I have two kids with Down Syndrome, and the extra whammy on my son with the Autism. My daughter had the open heart surgery when she was 5 months old. She is doing fabulous right now. Never underestimate the strength of our children. We are a Blessed group of people.
What a lovely photo of your children. I have three children. Two boys and a daughter. I’m lucky enough to have both of my boys with Down Syndrome. Brian is 27 and Damien is 18, with their sister in the middle of them both at the age of 21. I wouldn’t change a thing about my children for anything in the world. There is never a dull moment in my household. My eldest is the swimmer and artist of the family. Damien is very switched on, in almost everything he does and their sister is the smartest (gifted) and the gamer.
Both of my boys have had open heart surgery. Damien also suffers from asthma.
If only I could put a picture up of them to show to you all.
They have a wonderful Mother and Father.
Your children are beautiful! I’m a heart mom (not a T21 mom), and I can’t imagine having more than one child with heart trouble (just one of my five). Your babies are so precious. <3 All children are blessings–regardless of what the world may say about them (or us). 🙂
I wish I would of read something uplifting like this after I had my son. Instead a lot of stuff was negative and outdated. I hope your story is able to reach others like us that need something postitve to hold onto!
Congratulations on your beautiful family! My daughter is 27 and she is a joy. Triple the joy at your house- delightful!
Such cute and beautiful kids. Good luck with Callie’s heart I hope things turn out well for her